Pence May Decide on Political Future in January

Speculation has percolated in recent weeks that Indiana Republican Rep. Mike Pence will run either for governor or president in 2012. “Lt. Gov. Becky Skillman’s announcement Monday that she won’t run for governor appears to be pushing Pence toward Indianapolis,” Politico reports. But a source close to Pence tells the news service that he still hasn’t decided. “He will make a decision in the very near future . . . [by] the first couple weeks of January,” the source says.

Pence faces pressure to decide quickly because Skillman’s departure leaves the Republican field wide open. If Pence announces a gubernatorial bid quickly, that greatly lessens the chance for a divisive Republican primary.

Retiring Democratic Sen. Evan Bayh’s announcement earlier this month that he won’t run for governor also gives a boost to Pence’s chance for the job.